Aircraft floatlight



Jan 12, H CLAUSER ET AL AIRCRAFT FLOATLIGHT Filed Feb. 7, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 '56 FIG. FIG. 2 33 los |34 |05 |32 m ATTORNEY H. C. CLAUSER ET AL AIRCRAFT FLOATLIGHT Jan. 12, 1960 2,920,500

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 7, 1957 1NvENToR Herbert C. Clouser Robert S. Long BY @au ATT EY nited States 6 Claims. (Cl. 102-7) This invention relates to a signal device and morev particularly to a oat light which may be dropped from aircraft and ignited by impact with the water, and will burn for a predetermined period while oating upright on the surface of the water.

Heretofore aircraft float lights of this type have been proposed which consist of a wooden body weighted at one end and buoyant in water after dropping from a plane at 500 to 1000 feet altitude, having means for initiating a llame for night signaling and smoke for day signaling on the surface of large and deep bodies of water. Signals of this type in the past have consisted of wooden bodies made from special types of pine wood, having one or more circular channels or bores, each of which accommodated the insertion of a sealed, metal covered, combustible pyrotechnic element. The metal case covering this element had a low melting point which permitted the metal case to be destroyed during the burning of the element. As a result of this destruction, the longitudinal bore or channel in the Wooden body became the container or nozzle that emitted the phosphorous vapor of the pyrotechnic element through an opening in one end of the wooden body which produced a burning of the gaseous product of'the'burnng oatlight, resulting in the formation of a flame and smoke from the burning signal. There are many disadvantages to the use of woodbodies in oatlights, such as lack of uniformity in the wood, lack of dimensional stability, checks, cracks, etc.; however, up to the present time, a suitable signal vhoused in a metallic tube has not been found feasible.V .l

It is therefore an objectof the present invention to provide a signal device rin whichthepyrotechnic element is housed in a metallic container thatrwill not be destroyed during burning of the signal, thereby eliminating the necessity'ofawooden body. '1; i

' It isa further Vobject 'of the present: invention to proarent vide an aircraft ioatlight with a long "burning period that feliminates theV necessity ofa large number of individuallcandles: with the large number oftransitions of fuses to ase'ries of candles.

' Itis a still further object of the present invention toV` provide an' improved -arcraft'oatlight with a vari# able burning time thatcan beset prior'to launching the signal.

A further object of the present 'invention is'to provide an improved oatlightH having a plurality of candles therein'th'at can be burned either in parallel or in series; A still further object of thewpresent'invention is to provide an aircraft floatlightprovided'withV self-destroying means for sinking the s ignalafter it has been used. Other objects andthevnatureand advantages fofthe instant invention will 'be apparent from' the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein-z i 'i "-Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional viewof a oatlight 70 in accordance with the present invention taken ,through substantially the'cete'r ofthe device'j i 1` 'f r 2,920,560 j k*Reitented Jaan., 11.251.960`

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the device; Y, y Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the devicet; n l Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line ofFig.l; f .y

Fig 5 is a sectional view taken along lthe line ,5--5 ofFig.4; l `i a Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6*-6 of Fig. 4 showing the projectile after it has piercedthe outer casing; l g;

Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective viewl of a portion of thedevice; and 4 f a Fig. 8 is an enlarged perspective viewoftheprojectile and aportion of the outer casing. i a 'Y Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 0-designates an outer casing for thedevice that is a tubularmember constructed preferably of metal which isopenatboth ends. The lower end as illustrated in Fig. lis crimped onto a metallic base Vmember 12. The basel member 12 is provided with a pair of openings therethrough, 14, 15 which are of a smaller diameter at the lower4 end" to accommodate a primer 16 therein. `The. base member 12 is relatively thick at the base thereofand acts vas a ballast rweight for causing "the signal to drop heavy-end downward and to maintain the signal upright while burning. f

A lower cylindrical block 18 cut off at 17 along one edge along a chordofrthe sectionis located resting on the base member 12. The lower block18, as best shown in Fig. 7, is provided with a pair of openings 19, 20 in alignment with the openings 14, 15 inthe base member 12. The lower block 18 likewise ispro'- vided with four openingsV 21, 22, 23, 24 ladaptedlto receive a guide pin 26 which screws into a threaded opening 28 in the base member 12, and a`plurality of bolts 30. In addition toy the six openings heretofore described extending through the thickness yof the lower block 18, a bore 32 extends across the'- width `of'fthe block extending from the center of the cut 'olf portion 17 to the opposite side of the block extending through the center thereof. This bore 32 is adapted to' receive a scuttle gun assembly to be described hereafter; An opening 33 extends downwardly fromthe top:v of-'th'e block to the bore 32. A cylindrical shaped cut out 34 is located in the top surface of the block 18 extending downward therein for a portion of its thickness" and centered above the opening 19 therethrough. A cut out channel 36 extends from the'pe'riphery of the'fct out 34 to the other opening 20. A center cylindrically shaped block^38fis located 'immediately above the lower block 18 resting thereagainst and is provided with four openings 39,40;v 41,*42 in alignment with theopenin'gs 21,22, 23y and 2,4'in the lower block.U A cylindrical opening 44 .of` the same diameter and aligned with the vcut out vportion 34` of the lower block is jcutl through the entire thickness of the block 38. A second cylindricalfopening 46"'of the same diameter as the' openingl 44 is cut out vof. the top surface of the block 38 extendingdownwardly' for'a portion of itsthickness and centered abovep'the ,opening 20 in the lower block. A smaller. opening 48 inthe center of the opening 46 aligned with the opening" 20 in the lower block extends through the remainder ofthe thickness of the block 33. A cut out channel 50 extends from the periphery of the cut out opening i6-'over Vto an opening 52 extending downwardly through the' block in alignment with the opening 33 in vthelower block 18. A cover block 54 is located immediately `above the center block 38 and is likewise provided with fotlrucip'eri-l ings 56, 57, 58 and 59 win alignment with theopenings 39, 40,741 and 42 in :the centerblock. Alcyli drifcal,`

opening 60pt the-same'diameter and'v aligned withfthe o 3 opening 44 of 'the center thickness of theb lock 54. Ase'cond 'cylindrical opening 62 of the same diameter and in alignment |with the opening 46 in the centerblock is.cut through the entire thickness of the Vblockf5l4. 1

In assembling the device, the three blocks 18, 38, and 54 varemaintained properly aligned 'by the bolts 30 which pass through ythe alignedr holes in the three blocks vwhich are lheld tightly pressed together by *the nuts 31 screwed onto theends of the bolts 30 Yas shown in Fig. 6. The Vguide pin 26 passes through `aligned holes in the three blocks and screws into the threaded opening 28 in the base member 12. The three blocks may be made of a hard `material Asuchv as --Mlasonite `or the like,V and `have approximately the same` diameter as the inner diameter of thebase member1'2 into which they liit'snugly. The strips ,ofofuses vto be described'hereafter are inserted in the 'proper fashionV inthe openings and channels'of the blocks-prior to bolting together of the blocks `and insertion-inthe base member-12. p

v `A.firstpyrotechnic candle assembly. 64 is located with- 'inj-the outer ycasing 10 and fspacedgjtherefrom as shown in lFigql with -ipts lower end extending through the cylindrical openings 60, 44 and 34 -in the blocks heretofore described. The pyrotechnic candle assembly includes a lower ibase block 66 which may be made of Masonite or the like, having an opening y68 Vthrough the center thereof which is in alignment with the opening 19 in the lower block 18. A second opening 70 is provided throughout the thickness of the block 66. A cut out channel 72 extends from the opening 70 to the outer .periphery -of the block 66. VThe upper portion of the rblockf66 is of .somewhat smaller diameter than the remainder of the block, thereby forming a shoulder 74 ex- -tendingaboutthe periphery of the block. A metal casing 76.1of'aluminum or the like extending the length of the Vcandle assembly Iis attached to the lower base block 166 resting on-the shoulder 74 thereon. Within the easing 76 jare located an insulating lining tube78 preferably of asbestos, and a lining tube 80 inwardly thereof, preferably imade of a cellulosie brous material, as cardboard, al1 ,surrounding `the pyrotechnic candle 82. The candle 82-is shown to be resting on a block 84 preferably of ire-clay'anld a `disc -86 `which are located adjacent to the base block `66. The candle 82 is provided with a central channel vor bore 88 extending the length of the candle. Located within the central -bore 88 is a -tube 90 of fibrous celluloslic material; such Vas cardboard. A strip of fuse 92 is located within the Itube 90 extending fromr above the tube, through the tube 90, `through the base block v opening 19 in the vblockr18rfand thence-into the opening =14 in the base member 12 kadjacent to the primer 16. 4. Although not referred to hereafter, it Y.should be noted that -fuze terminals 4are used at 'every point where a fuze starts or ends.

`Atethe upper end of the Vpyrotechnic candle 82 is mountedacontainer 94, covered with a cover 96, containing a starter composition 98. The upper end of the fuze 92 extends into the starter composition through an opening in the lower wallof the container 94.

:Mounted -on the casing 76 at the upper end thereof is an adapter 100 intoV which is fitted a stack member 102. A vapor barrier i103.n is located in the adapter 100, whichcloses olf the opening between the stack and the candle assembly. At the Itop of thestack member 102, the diameter thereof narrows at 104 to a smaller diameter tube 106 which is closed by ya closure cup 108. The stock member 102 is lined ywith a liner 110 adjacent thereto.

vAt the lower end ofthe rst pyrotechnic candle 82 is a passage 112 `extending upwardly a short distance from the lower end of the candle 82. The passage 112 is in alignment'with the opening 70 in ythe base block 66. A strip Ioffuze 114 extendsfrom within the passage 112, through the opening 70andA channel 72 in the base block is cut vthrough the entire A2,920,5eo

primer;l

block 66, and thence across the channel 36 in the lower block Y18r endingv at a point adjacent to the opening `20 in the block 18. Y a Y Y A second pyrotechnic candle assembly 116 is located within the outer casing 10 adjacent to and spaced from the rst candle assembly and the outer casing 10. The lower end thereof extends through the cylindrical opening 62 in block v54 and the cylindrical opening 46 in the block 38. The second candle assembly 116 includes a lower base block 118 preferably made of Masonite or the like, having an opening 120 through the center thereof which is in alignment withthe opening 48 -in the block 38,." A secondfopening 122 is provided throughout the thicknessof the'block 1'18, with a cut out channel i124 extending 'from the opening 122 to the outer periphery of the block 118. The upper portion of the block 118 is of somewhat smaller diameter than the Aremainde'rfof Athe block, thereby forming a shoulder 74 about the periphery of the block similar to the first candle assembly. Similarly to 4the irst candle assembly, the casing v76 is attached 'to the block 118 resting on the shoulder 74, and within the casing are located the insulatingtube'78, lining tube 80, pyrotechnic candle 82, block 84, disc 86, central-bore 88 and avtube 90 located therein. A stripY of lfuse 126 extends throughout the vtube 90, opening 120 in the base block 118 and ending inthe opening -48 adjacent to the end of the fuse V114. 'i The upper end -of -the second candle assembly Ais identical to thatA of the rst candle assembly including the identical stack arrangement and closure cup 108.

At the lower end -ofthe second pyrotechnic candle is a passage 128 extending upwardly a short distance from the lower end of the candle. The passage 128 is in align- Ament with the opening 122 in the base block 118. A strip of-fpuse 130 extends from within the passage 128 through th'evopening 122 and channel 124 in tbe base block 118 and thence across the channel 50 in the block 38 and throughy the opening 52 therein, and through the opening 33 in the lower block .18, ending at a point -adjacentrto thebore 32 in the lower block 18.

` Astrip of-fuse 131'extends from a point adjacent the end of :fuses .114 and 1-26 downwardly through the open- -ing 20 in the -block 18 and ending in the opening 15 in the baseV imember`12 adjacent the primer 1-6. Afclosurelcup 132 -is located inthe outer casing 10 near the upper' end thereof, closing olf the casing 10. Azpair of openings are `provided fin the closure cup 132 into which are fitted closure stacks 134 which surround the upper end 4106 of the stacks "102. A closure cap 136 is screwed onto jthe upper ythreaded outer surface of each of rthe closure stacks `134. As illustrated, a closing cork 138-and closing spacers 1140 may be located between the closure Vcap 136 yand the upper end-of the stack 102.

At intervals .allong'the length'of the casing 10 are located supports 142 which ysupport the pyrotechnic candle assemblies.Vv The space lsurrounding the candle assemblies within the outer casing 10 is void and permits of the signal being buoyant with the heavy end downward. f' Attached to the Klower surface of the base member d2 is theigniting mechanism. v Thismechanism will function upon impacts as low as from 15 feet above the water. A diaphragm housing 144 is screwed onto the basernembe'r. 12byv vscrews. i146. Located in the diaphragm housing 144 is a pair of diaphragms 146, 148 in 'alignment'wi-th thefopenings 14 and 15 respectively in thebase member 12.y The diaphragms are retained by o diaphragm retainers 150. Enclosing the diaphragms are covers .-152, 154 respectively, which are retained in place by forked .clips156. A striker 158 is located beneath each diaphragm in an opening inthe diaphragm retainer. The strikers 158 are 'in alignment with yand adjacent to the primers 16 housed in the base member 12. Upon actuation, the striker comes `into direct contact with `the safety Vlug A1.60 isniveted fto each vdiaphragm cover,

and for safety in shipment, a car seal 162 is attached through holes in the lug :160 and the clip 156 to prevent accidental removal of the clips during shipment.

Extending across the bore 32 in the lower block 18 is the scuttling gun assembly 164, best illustrated in Fig. 5. This assembly includes a barrel '166 extending virtually Ithe entire diameter of the outer casing v10. At one end of the barrel 166 is located a breech cap l168 which is screwed onto the end of the barrel. A hole 170 extends through the breech cap 168 and barrel 166, and is so located as to be in alignment with the opening 33 in the lower block 18 and the end of the fuze 130. `A gun wad 172 is located within the barrel at `about thecenter of the length thereof, forming a chamber between the breech cap and the wad lled with black powder 174.

A projectile stop 176 is screwed ontorthe other end of the barrel y166. The projectile stop 176 has an opening 178 in the end thereof of smaller diameter than the bore of the barrel 166. The portion of the outer casing adjacent to the opening 178 in the projectile stop 176 is weakened as illustrated at 180. Adjacent to the gun wad 172 is pinned a projectile 182 which includes a projectile body 184 having an outer diameter corresponding to the bore of the barrel 166. A projectile point l186 which is screwed into the projectile body has a flattened pontion 188 rearwardly of the point thereon. Thus, it can be seen that when the black powder is ignited, the explosion resulting will release the projectile 182, force it forwardly with suiiicient force to pierce the' weakened portion 180 of the outer casing 10, and the projectile body 184 will come to rest against the projectile stop 176 with the projectile point 186 extending through the opening -178 and the outer casing weakened portion 180 as shown in Fig. 6. The projectile ystop 176 acts as a safety feature to prevent the release of the projectile from the signal. Water can then pass into the casing 10 throughthe opening in the casing, due to the flattened portion 188 on the projectile.

Having described the apparatus in detail, the method of `operation will now be described. Prior to launching the signal from the plane, the caps 136 at the topvof the ,signal are removed. One or -both ofthe clips 156 are likewise removed, depending upon the burning `time desired. For the full burning time, the one clip 156 adjacent to the first candle assembly is removed along with the diaphragm cover 152, thereby exposing only the diaphragm 146. When the signal reaches the water, the impact of the water against the diaphragm 146 causes the diaphragm to flex inwardly, forcing the striker 158 against the primer 16 actuating it. The primer, in turn, ignites the 'lower end of the fuze 92, which burns upwardly within the tube 90 until the starter composition 98 at the top of the column is ignited. The gases and ame resulting ignite the pyrotechnic candle 82 and likewise burn out the stanter container cover 96, the Vapor barrier -103 and blow out the closure cup 108 at the top of the stack, permitting the vapor to emerge through the stack 102, which burns to produce the ame and smoke.

The pyrotechnic candle 82 is made of a pyrotechnic composition, well known in the art, pressed into a long, relatively slow burning candle which burns with the evo-lution of a vapor that reacts with atmospheric oxygen to yield large quantities of smoke and flame. For example, a suitable pyrotechnic candle will burn for a period of 30 minutes. When the candle has burned down to the location of the passage 112, lthe fuze 114 therein is ignited and `acts to transfer the burning to the second candle by igniting the fuze 126 which in turn burns to the top of the second candle and ignites it through its starter composition similarly to the action of the first candle assembly.

When the second pyroltechnic assembly has burned down to the location of the passage 128, the fuse 130 therein is ignited and burns downwardly within the blocks 54, 38 and :18 to ignite the black `powder 174 'in the -scuttle gun assembly. When the black powder is thus ignited, after completion of the burning of the second candle, the projectile 182 `is ejected through the weakened portion of the outer casing 10, piercing it as shown in Fig. 6 to permit the entry of Water into the casing until signal sinks in the water after losing its buoyancy.

In-the event that only one half of therburning time is desired, both clips 156 are removed prior to` launching the signal and both diaphragm caps -152 and 154 are removed, exposing both diaphnagms 146 and 148 to the water upon impact. Both diaphragms are thus actuated simultaneously to force the strikers 158 against the primers 16 to initiate simultaneously both the fuse 92 in the rst candle and fuses 131 and 126 in the second candle. Both candles are thus ignited simultaneously and burn together. .At the end of the burning time the scuttle gun is actuated as heretofore described to sink the signal. When ignited, the short fuse y114 extending from lthe bottom of the iirst column to the second column is ignited, but the spit of fuse 114 into the cavity 112 is not sufficient to ignite the bottom end of the first column. When one half of the burning time is desired without the added smoke of two candles simultaneously, then only clip 156 and diaphragm cap 154 are removed thus igniting only the second candle.

It will thus -be seen that this construction results in a oatlight that can be set to burn for one hour or for one-half hour, for example, as desired, followed by a scuttling of the remaining inert casing. The construe. tion described permits of the use of a metal casing surrounding each candle assembly that does not become con sumed during the burning of the candle, and thus eliminates the need for wooden bodies as previously considered imperative to a successiful signal.

It should be noted that `one or more candle assemblies can be incorporated into the signal with minor modifications in Ithe structure, although two candles are illustrated.

'By reasonA of the buoyancy of the casing 10 and its very low center of gravity,'the device will iioat upon the surface of the water and be maintained in a Vertical position thereon, to which position it is immediately returned if displaced therefrom.

The temporary closure seals initially keep the water from entering the signal from the top, and the base member 12 and its joint with the casing -10 is watertight and prevents the entry of water from the lower end.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and therefore the invention is not limited to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specification but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A oatlight comprising `an elongated outer casing, a first candle assembly supponted within said outer casing and spaced therefrom, a second candle assembly supported within said outer casing and spaced therefrom and from said first candle assembly, each said candle assembly including an elongated pyrotechnic candle housed in a metallic casing enclosing said assembly, an inner central channel extending through said candles and a starter composition located at one end of said candles, means for igniting said first pyrotechnic candle, a first fuse located wi-thin the channel of said first candle extending from said starter 'composition at one end of said candle to said igniting means at the other end of said candle, a second fuse leading from a point near the other end of said first candle through the channel in said second candle to its starter composition, a scuttle gun assembly including a propelling charge and a pointed projectile located within said outer casing, said scuttle gun assembly being adapted to tire the point of said projectile through said outer casing when actuated, and a.

www

/7 third fuse leading from the other end `of said second candle to said scuttle gunassembly whereby upon completion of burning'of .said 'second candle saidfpropelling charge .is ignited by said third 'fuse' to ytire said projectileto pierce said outer casing by the head of said projectile and permit the entry of water therein for sinking said 'outerrcasing 2. A iloatlight adapted :to burn while floating on Water .comprising yan outer casing, a pyrotechnic candle located therein, means for igniting said candle,a scuttle gun assembly including a propelling charge and a pointed projectile located within said outer casing, said scuttle assembly being 'adapted to re the point of said projectile` through said outer casing when actuated, and a fuse connecting the end of said candle to said scuttle gun assembly whereby upon completion of burning of said candle said propelling charge is ignited by said fuse to fire said projectile to pierce said outer casing and permit the entry of water therein to sink said casing. i

3. A floatlight comprising an elongated outer casing, a candle assemblysupported within said outer lcasing and spaced therefrom, said candle assembly comprising a base block, a tubular metallic casing, said tubular metallic casing being attached at one end 'to said base block, an insulating lining tube adjacent said tubular metallic casing .and inwardly thereof, a tube of brous cellulosic material adjacent said lining tube and inwardly thereof, -and an elongated pyrotechnic candle within said last named tube, a closure enclosing the upper end of `said tubular metallic casing thereby hermetically enclosing said candle assembly, `an inner central channel extending through the length of said candle, a tube of fibrous cellulosic material located within said channel, an opening in 'alignment with said channel extending through said base block,-a starter composition located at the upper end of said candle, a fuze extending from said starter composition through :the length of said .tube

4. A oatlight in accordance with claim 3 wherein two of said candle assemblies fare'supported within said outer casing and ,spaced/therefrom, a fuse l'eac'iing from .the lowereend'of the'iirst of said candle assemblies vto the lower end of the second of said candle assemblies for `'conductingthe ame from said first candle to the .fuze at the lower end of said second candle assembly, and said igniting means comprises a rst igniting means for igniting the fuse at the lower end of said rst candle assembly land a second igniting means for igniting the fuse at the lower end `of said second candle assembly whereby when said rst Iigniting meansis actuated said candles burn consecutively, when said second igniting means is actuated only said second candle assembly burns vand when said frst and second igniting means are ignited simultaneously, 'both said candle assemblies will bum simultaneously.

y5. A floatlight in accordance with claim 3 including a scuttle gun assembly comprising =a propelling charge and a pointed projectile located within said outer casing below said candle assembly, .said scuttle gun assembly being adapted to re the point of said projectile through said outer casing when Vactuated and a `fuse connecting the lower end of said candle to said scutvtle gun assembly whereby upon completion of burning of said candle said propelling charge is ignited by said fuse to re said projectile to pierce said outer casing and permit the entry of w-ater therein for sinking said outer casing. f

6. `A iloatlight in accordance with claim 5 wherein means are provided in said scuttle gun assembly to prevent the complete ejection of said projectile therefrom yet permitting the piercing of said outer casing by the point of said projectile.

V References Cited in the'le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 931,135 Maxim Aug. 17, 1909 1,379,273 Meden May 24, 192-1 1,815,226 Anderson Iuly 21, k1931 2,079,008 Goss May 4, 1937 2,1f19,697 Anderson June 7, 1938 

